This article has been indexed from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – Front Page
Apple on Wednesday evening announced that, starting in early 2022, it will allow developers of “reader” apps to include an in-app link to their website for users to set up or manage an account. “Reader” apps allow a user to access previously purchased content or subscription-based content for digital magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video, according to Apple, such as Netflix, Spotify, and the Amazon Kindle app.
Following the announcement, some developers have said Apple’s decision is not good enough.
For starters, some have criticized Apple’s plan to let developers share only “a single link” to their website to help users set up and manage their account. Apple is still considering the types of wording it will let developers use for these links, according to The Irish Independent‘s Adrian Weckler, but some developers doubt that Apple will let them mention that customers can save money by signing up outside of the app.
Apple’s press release does make the bold assumption that no further changes to its steering practices are going to be mandated over the remaining months of the year 😅 Restricting it to ‘Reader’ apps, and a single in-app link, is just not enough
— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 2, 2021
Sure, your “reader” app can include one (1) approved link to your website…but will you be allowed to have any text near that link explaining why someone might want to tap on it, or is that still forbidden? This is where we are, mentally, when considering App Store rules in 2021.
— John Siracusa (@siracusa) September 2, 2021